Easy Steps to a Cleaner Carpet

Know how to clean any type of carpet easily

Carpets are usually more comfortable underfoot than hardwood, laminate or tile floors, but they can be more difficult to clean.

It is important to know what a carpet is made of before cleaning. There are different carpet-making materials that respond differently to spills and stains.

1. Nylon was once the most popular synthetic fiber for carpets. It can however be stained easily because the fiber has dye sites on it, which need to be filled to give any stain resistance. If unprotected nylon becomes stained, there may be no way to clean the discoloration.

2. Wool is highly durable, especially when blended with nylon. Pure wool carpets can be expensive, so they should be cleaned carefully; blended wool may have some stain problems due to the nylon content, but should be better than pure nylon in this regard.

3. Polypropylene is inexpensive and wears easily, but is easy to clean.

4. Polyester is inherently stain-resistant because it resists water. It is usually colored in a molten state, so it does not have to be dyed. One variant called PTT has the same stain-resistant properties.

Of the many ways to clean a carpet, the most common are a series of household processes.

1. Old-fashioned carpet rod, rug and broom beating, shaking and hanging are ways to knock dust out of a carpet. These are not useful for carpets permanently affixed to floors.

2. Vacuum cleaners can remove dust and dirt from carpets with varying success, depending on the brand of cleaner and type of carpet. This type of cleaning can be effective at removing dry dirt and dust or any solid waste not encrusted on the fibers of the carpet. Wet-dry cleaners can also attempt to clean stains.

3. Tea leaves and cut grass were once used to remove dust from carpets, at a risk of staining.

4. Lemon juice can be tried when removing an ink stain.

5. Turpentine is one way to remove grease fats and can be environmental-friendly.

6. Diatomaceous earth can be used to fight insect infestations.

7. Club soda remains a popular home stain remover.

It is possible to rent or buy more advanced carpet cleaning equipment. If you choose to do so, you have several options.

1. Dry compounds or encapsulation polymers can be evenly spread over a carpet and brushed in. These biodegradable powders attract dust and dirt, which a vacuum cleaner then sucks away with the powder.

2. Bonnets are quick cleaning machines designed to scrub a mixture of club soda and cleaning agent. The bonnet's replaceable or rinse capable absorbent pad gathers soil as it spins.

3. Steam cleaning involves conditioning a carpet with an alkaline agent and then passing a pressurized cleaning tool over the carpet. The detergents dry to a powder or crystal, and the carpet should dry within four hours if this is all done correctly. Fans, air conditioners and ventilation may make this slow process slower, and applying too much water may result in a moldy carpet.

Of these methods, dry compounds and encapsulation are highly popular. They avoid many of the problems of wet carpet cleaning, and currently existing compounds are more environmental-friendly. They are usually also more cost-effective than other industry methods. Consumer vacuum systems and home remedies are generally less expensive than industry methods.